Why was His Three Daughters shot in 35 mm? Explained

His Three Daughters is a 2023 American drama film written and directed by Azazel Jacobs. It features three estranged sisters - Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne and Elizabeth Olsen - who get back together to look after their dying father. Opening on September 9, 2023 at the Toronto International Film Festival, it was highly praised for its tight direction and emotional depth.

His Three Daughters became available on Netflix from September 20, 2024, following a limited release in theatres beginning September 6, 2024, enabling viewers all around to enjoy its poignant narrative.

The decision to shoot His Three Daughters in 35 mm was not arbitrary. Director Azazel Jacobs and cinematographer Sam Levy decided on the technique to accentuate the emotional tone of the movie. By using 35 mm, the film acquired a texture not possible in digital formats, enhancing its emotional resonance.

Levy's use of film caught the faint, spiritual aspects of the story. The choice was about telling the story in the most real manner possible and not only about appearance.

The film’s use of 35 mm enhances its atmosphere, giving the visuals an ethereal quality. The 35 mm grain accentuates the actors' skin tones and the lighting's richness, generating a spiritual and emotionally charged environment. From the story to the emotional undertones, let's dissect the motives behind this decision and explore how it shapes the narrative.

The official synopsis according to Netflix says:

"Emotions run high when three estranged sisters reunite in a cramped New York City apartment to watch over their ailing father during his final days."

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A spiritual atmosphere through 35 mm in His Three Daughters

Cinematographer Sam Levy emphasized the importance of capturing the "unseen aspects" of His Three Daughters. Choosing 35 mm film, the team sought to create an environment whereby the audience could sense the presence of the dying father, all through the narrative.

The erratic character of the movie making gave important events mystical quality. The 35 mm grain gave the film a physical texture, enhancing the intensity of events like a brilliant light or a glowing window, which raised the emotional appeal of the movie.

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A nod to cinematic tradition

Another reason His Three Daughters was shot in 35 mm was to emulate the look of the French New Wave and 1990s American independent films. Both Jacobs and Levy wanted to bring a sense of nostalgia to the visual style.

They achieved that by creating a sense of control in every shot. Shooting with one camera on film allowed them to plan meticulously, giving the movie a refined precision. Each camera movement and cut felt deliberate, reinforcing the emotional weight of the story.

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The emotional connection through imperfections

Clip from His Three Daughters (Image via Netflix)

Levy reveled in the imperfections of 35 mm, feeling that they added a crucial spiritual presence to the film. Whether from the lighting or from the film stock itself, these flaws added to the character experiences' rawness.

Digital media would have polished these flaws, but in His Three Daughters, they became a part of the emotional terrain. Jacobs and Levy kept a sense of authenticity fit for the grief, connection and reconciliation themes of the movie by shooting in 35 mm.

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Plot of the movie

His Three Daughters centers on three sisters — Katie, Christina and Rachel — who get back together in their childhood house to look after their dying father. They negotiate long-standing strife and unresolved issues over three days.

While Rachel, who has been looking after their father, comes under criticism for her life decisions, Katie is a controlling person battling with her loss. Christina, the peacemaker, works to keep the family intact. The death of their father sets off the sisters' process of healing and closure-search.

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Production and direction

Clip from His Three Daughters (Image via Netflix)

Azazel Jacobs wrote His Three Daughters with his lead actresses in mind. The film’s intimate setting, primarily within a New York apartment, allowed for deeply personal performances from the cast.

Cinematographer Sam Levy's decision to use 35 mm film added to the movie's timeless feel, reflecting Jacobs' vision. The discipline of shooting with just one camera also contributed to the film’s careful pacing and emotional depth, creating a strong connection between the audience and the characters.

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The ending of His Three Daughters: Emotional closure

His Three Daughters ends in a surreal yet moving way. The sisters surround Vincent as he approaches the end of his life; he seems to come back to life just momentarily. He speaks moving monologues, reaching out to his daughters in a way that had seemed unattainable.

However, this moment becomes clear only in Vincent's dying mind. His real death brings peace, so the sisters may heal and go on. Christina is singing a lullaby at the end of the movie, while Rachel — at last free from criticism — is sitting by herself reflecting on the loss.

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The illusion of control in the final moments

The last minutes of the movie show Katie, the character most challenged with control, changing. She apologizes to Rachel, showing she has come to terms with the turbulence of loss as the story turns around.

Using 35 mm film reflects this sense of release, as its defects suggest that not everything can be controlled, much as not every feeling can be neatly managed.

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How the sisters found peace after their father’s death

After their father’s death, the sisters begin to heal their fractured relationships. This is visually represented through the film’s soft lighting and subtle camera movements.

As the three daughters sit together after Vincent’s death, there’s a sense of calm and finality. The film captures the complex emotions that come with loss, offering a resolution that feels earned rather than forced.

In the final scenes, the sisters share a quiet moment together, hinting at a renewed bond. The use of 35 mm allows these moments to feel more personal and intimate. There’s a subtle warmth in the final shots, which echoes the film’s themes of reconciliation and the unpredictability of life.

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His Three Daughters was shot in 35 mm to enhance its emotional and spiritual depth. The texture of the film stock brought an authentic feel to the characters’ journey through grief and reconciliation.

Choosing this media, the directors established a strong link between the audience and the characters, enabling the emotional resonance of the story. For a narrative on family, loss and healing, the 35 mm format proved to be the ideal one.